Awning



| R. DRAKE E'TAL Aug. 14, I951 AWNING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 29,1947 jg. I

INVENTORS [W/S 2.. Old/(- l/ALQV 5. 02.4%;

ATTORNEY Aug. 14, 1951 L. R. DRAKE ET AL AWNING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledDec. 29, 1947 l "Ill/v4 II INVENTORS ZEW/S 0.. DLAKE .UAALY .S. DAA [4EATTORNEY Patented Aug. 14, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7Application December 29, 1947, Serial No. 794,296

4 Claims.

The invention relates to awnings, and more particularly pertains to alight metal awning designed for use in conjunction with homes, stores,and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a metal 5 slat awning adaptedto be extended and retracted to a folded position supported andcontrolled by a particular combination of lazytong trusses.

Another object of the invention is to provide an awning structure which,in the retracted state,

folds into a neat compact bundle allowing ready entry of sun and wind tothe window area, if desired, and when extended provides shade over thewindow area.

Another object of the invention is to provide an awning structure whichis readily operated and extended various amounts as desired to regulatethe amount of reflected light.

Other further objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent during the course of the following description, which, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing illustrates several of variousembodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a broken side elevation of the embodiment of Fig. 1 showingthe awning in a closed or retracted position but omitting the brace rodand showing elements of the supporting bracket in dotted lines to moreclearly show the relationship of adjacent parts.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the structure of Fig. 1 showing in greaterdetail the lazytong portion of the awning in an extended or openposition.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along lin 4-4 of Fig.3 showing in detail the manner of mounting and supporting the vanes onthe lazytongs in the structure of Figs. 1 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing the exact shape ofthe awning sections or slats.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view showing another embodiment of theinvention.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line of Fig. 6showing the manner of mounting and supporting the blind slats Referringto Fig. 1 the main awning panels or slats I are constructed withdownwardly projecting edge portions or flanges 2 at the lower end andwith similar upwardly projecting flanges 3 at the upper end all as seenmore clearly in Fig. 5. The lowermost panel ,4 is provided with adecorative skirt 5 which is adapted to assume a vertical positionregardless of the tilt angle of the awning proper by virtue of beingpivotally mounted at either end on pins 6. The uppermost panel I isnarrower than the others to allow mounting of the lazytong structure,atra pivot point in a manner to b described in detail hereinafter. Thepanels I are secured to angle brackets 8 comprising one member of thelazytong structure. The uppermost angle bracket 9 upon which panel 1 ismounted is shorter than the re-:

maining angle bracket members 8. The other member completing thelazytong structure consists of a strap I0 pivotally connected to anglebracket 8. Each strap I0 is progressively connected near one end atpoint H to one angle bracket 8, at point 12 intermediate its length tothe next angle bracket 8 of the series, and near the other end at pointI3 to the next angle bracket 8. The connections at points II, [2, and I3are suitably made by rivets or other means in such a manner as to allowpivoting at these points. In the foregoing manner, a parallelogramshaped structure, adapted to open and close, is provided. The end memberI4 of each lazytong structure corresponding to straps I I] is slightlyshorter than the regular straps Ill. The lower strap member I4 isshorter and is pivotally connected at its ends only to the two end anglebrackets 8 at points [5 and I6. The upper end strap member 11corresponding to strap I0 is also shorter than remaining straps l0 andis pivotally connected at its upper end to uppermost angle bracket 9 atl8 and at its lower end to the upper end of the first angle bracket 8 atpoint 19. Each of straps Ill and strap ll extends beyond its lowermostpivot anchorage to provide supporting extension arms 20 for the nextlower strap I 0 in the series. If desired stifiening rods 2| extendingacross the slats 0r panels may be included from time to time and arepreferably positioned at the center of the slats and are anchored at theends in straps ID by means of a square shoulder on the rod 2| engaging asquare hole in the straps Ill. The rod 20 is round at the point where itpasses through angle bracket 8 to allow pivoting of the bracket 8 on therod 2|. The angle which the awning assumes with a window indicatedgenerally by numeral}! or other mounting surface.

is controlled by pivotally mounting on lower strap member I4 a rod 23which telescopes in tube 24. The telescoping rod 23 may be secured atvarying degrees of extension by set screw 25 threadcdly mounted in tube24. The lower end of tube 24 is hingedly connected to sliding collar 26which is slidably mounted on bracket 21. Bracket 21 is convenientlymounted on the window frame. Collar 26 may be secured at variouspositions on bracket 21 by set screw 28. The desired position of theawning as regards its angle with the vertical is then obtained bysuitable adjustment of set screws 25 and 28. The raising and lowering ofthe awning is secured by-rotation oi crank 29 geared to actuating rod 38through gear box 3|. Near the upper end rod 30 extends through collar 32which is in turn secured to the window frame. Above the collar 32 rod 38is operatively associated with the awning for raising and lowering thelatter in a manner to be described in connection with Fig. 2. The awningis pivotally mounted at a pivot point I8 of the lazytongs structure inbracket 33.

As seen in Fig. 2, the awning is in a raised position and the manner ofraising and lowering it is shown in greater detail. Gear box 3 I, inwhich crank 29 is journaled, covers bevel gear 34 fixedly mounted on thecrank 29. A second gear 35 mating with gear 34 is mounted on rod 30which is also journaled in gear box 3I. At the upper end of rod 38 abevel gear 36 is fixedly mounted and mates with a similar gear 3!mounted on a cross rod 38. Cross rod 38 extends across the top vane orpanel I and through lazytong angle bracket 9 which is pivotally mountedon rod 38. Cross rod 38 is fixedly secured to strap member I I at I8whereby turning the crank 29 causes the cross rod 38 to rotate thusopening and closing the lazytong structure which, of course, lowers andraises the awning vanes or panels.

Referring to Fig. 3 the details of the lazytong structure are seen moreclearly. A feature of the invention is the manner of mounting the panelsor vanes I of the awning. In the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 3 the'vanesof panels I are mounted directly on the angle bracket members 8 as seenmore clearly in Fig. 4. The vanes are mounted in such a manner that theplane of the main surface of the vane or panel I is parallel to andsubstantially in the plane of the top edge of the angle bracket 8. Thusthe vanes or panels of the awning are associated with thelazytong-structure in a very simple manner, while the extension arms 20serve to lend strength and rigidity to the structure.

In Fig. 4 the manner of securing the vanes or panels I of the awning tothe lazytong assembly is shown. As seen one leg 39 of the angle bracketmember 8 is pivotally secured to strap members I of the lazytong trussas by rivets 46 while the other leg M is fastened to the panel I byrivet '42.

In Fig. the exact shape of the panels or slats I are shown. The integraldownwardly projecting flange 2 along the lower edge of the slat I andthe upwardly projecting flang 3 along the upper edge of the slats aremore clearly seen. Additionally the manner in which the flanges of aseries of slats or vanes interengage when the awning is lowered will beclearly apprehended by reference to Fig. 5.

In the embodiment depicted in Fig. 6 the lazy-.

tong structure and method ofmounting the vanes or slats on the lazytongstructure has been modifled. Outer lazytong strap43 is rounded at each 4end and is pivotally connected at each end at 44 and 45 to innerlazytong strap member 46. Similarly strap member 46 is in turn pivotallyconnected at each end at 44 and 45 to strap member 43. Additionally thestrap members 43 and 46 are pivotally associated with each other attheir respective centers on rivet 41. A continuous series of thesestraps associated in the foregoing manner forms a conventional lazytongstructure. An angle bracket 48 is fixedly mounted along one leg on innerlazytong strap 46 as by rivet 41 and rivets 49 on both sides of rivet41. Slats or vanes 50 are attached as by rivets 5| to the other leg ofthe angle bracket 48 all as more clearly seen in Fig. '7. The anglebracket 48 is mounted on the lazytong strap in such a manner that itslower end assumes a slight positive angle with the longitudinal axis ofthe inner truss 46. The end or the angle bracket 48 serves as a stop at52 to prevent the lazytong structure from opening completely andthusassuming a dead center position. This feature admits of more readyclosing'or raising of the structure.

In Fig. '7 the association of the angle bracket 48, the slats 50, andthe lazytong strap 46 is shown in detail. Strap 46 is-shown positionedagainst one leg of angle bracket 48 and is secured thereto by rivets(not shown). The other leg of angle bracket 48 mounts vane or slat 50and is secured thereto as by rivet 5 I.

In Fig, 8 the manner in which the angle brackets 48 serve as stopmembers is more clearly portrayed. As shown theleg of one awning slatsupporting angle bracket 48 extends and rests upon a projecting leg ofan adjacent angle member at 52 so'that the lazytong truss members arepre- Vented from completely opening up and thus assembling a dead centerposition.

The operation of the device oi the invention will be more clearlyunderstood from the following description in connection with Figs. 1, 2,and 3. Assuming the device to be in the position shown in Fig. 2 turningcrank 29 in the proper direction will cause the lazytong structure toopen or straighten out until it assumes the position shown in Figs. 1and 3. At this time each strap ID will rest upon the extension arm 28 ofthe adjacentistrap Ill and greater rigidity of the structure will thusbe secured. Also in this position the panels or slatsI rest one uponanother with the upwardly projecting flanges 3 engaging thedownwardly'projecting flanges 2 in the manner shown in Fig. 5. In thisposition the window is protected from rain, sunshine, and the like. Itwill be apparent that the slats or vanes may be held and kept at anyintermediate degree of a completely lowered or completely raisedposition. If desired the angle which the awning assumes with the windowis readily susceptible of adjustment by lengthening rod 23 and slidingcollar 26 to an appropriate location. It will be appreciated that, inaddition to providing the feature of allowing'the angle of the-awningand the window to be adjusted, the means securing this result alsogreatly strengthens the mounting of the awning.

Materials from which the awning of the invention may be preferablyconstructed are magnesium, aluminum, and alloys thereof. These materialsbeing of very light weight and possessing Among the advantages of theinvention should be mentioned the extreme simplicity of the manner ofmounting the slats or panels on the lazytong structure and the rigiditysecured through the use of extension arms on the lazytong structure.

We claim:

1. In an awning the combination which includes spaced paired lazytongtrusses, awning panels mounted on the inner truss members with the planeof their surface making a slight positive angle with the respectivetruss members upon which they are mounted, a stop carried by the trussmembers adapted to limit the opening movement of the truss members,supporting arms adapted to hold the lower end of the lazytong trussesaway from a supporting surface, and means associated with the lazytongtrusses at a point where the upper pair of truss members meet forincreasing and decreasing the angle formed by the intersection of thetruss members.

2. In a light metal awning the combination which includes spaced pairedlazytong trusses, the

inner member of which comprises an angle section, awning panels securedat each end to one leg of the respective angle sections of the lazytongtrusses, said panels having their upper surfaces substantially in thesame plane as the plane of the associated legs of the angle sectionsupon which they are mounted, extension arms on the outer members of thelazytong trusses providing support to similar adjacent truss members,means for mounting the lazytong trusses at a pivot point where two uppertruss members meet, supporting arms adapted to hold the lower end of thelazytong trusses away from a supporting surface, and means associatedwith the lazytong trusses for opening and closing the lazytong trusses.

3. In an awning the combination which includes spaced paired lazytongtrusses, the inner members of which comprise angle sections, awningsections respectively having upwardly projecting flanges along the topedges and downwardly projecting flanges along the bottom edges andmounted at each end between the lazytong trusses on the angle sectionsthereof, extension arms on the outer truss members providing support toadjacent truss members, means for mounting the lazytong trusses on thesupport at the pivot point of the upper trusses, supporting arms adaptedto hold the lower end of the lazytong trusses away from a supportingsurface, and means for opening and closing the lazytong trusses.

4. In a light metal awning the combination which includes spaced pairedlazytong trusses, an angle bracket carried by the inner truss memberswith the downwardly projecting leg of one angle bracket riding upon thehorizontally projecting leg of an adjacent angle bracket, awning panelssecured at their respective ends to the projecting legs of the anglebrackets, said awning panels being mounted with the plane of theirsurface making a slight positive angle with the lower end of the innertruss member upon which they are mounted, stop means formed by the legof one angle bracket riding on the leg of an adjacent angle bracketadapted to limit the opening movement of the lazytong truss, atelescoping extension arm connecting the lower end of the truss memberswith the mounting surface, and means operatively associated with thelazytong truss for increasing and decreasing the angle formed by theintersection of two truss members.

LEWIS R. DRAKE. HARRY S. DRAKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 82,032 Poulson Sept. 8, 1868722,566 Cornitius Mar. 10, 1903 743,257 De Simone Nov. 3, 1903 1,257,539Sheehan Feb. 26, 1918 1,536,520 Parker May 5, 1925 1,800,626 Hanna Apr.14, 1931 2,244,013 Johnson June 3, 1941

